GeForce GTX 950 vs Radeon HD 8990
GeForce GTX 950
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Radeon HD 8990
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Performance Spectrum - GPU
About G3D Mark
G3D Mark is a standard benchmark that measures graphics performance in real-world gaming scenarios. It simplifies comparing cards from different brands, where higher scores directly correlate with better fps and smoother gaming experiences.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (G3D Mark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar
Performance Per Dollar
Performance Comparison
About G3D Mark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
The GeForce GTX 950 is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 2.7% higher G3D Mark score. However, the Radeon HD 8990 offers more VRAM, which may be beneficial for texture-heavy scenarios at higher resolutions.
| Insight | GeForce GTX 950 | Radeon HD 8990 |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ✅Leading raw performance (+2.7%) | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-2.7%) |
| Longevity | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2015 / Maxwell 2.0 (2014−2019)) | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2013 / GCN 1.0 (2012−2020)) |
| Ecosystem | Supports FSR Upscaling | Supports FSR Upscaling |
| VRAM | ❌ Less VRAM capacity | ✅ More VRAM (+50%) |
| Efficiency | 💡 Excellent Perf/Watt | ⚡ Higher Power Consumption |
| Case Fit | 📏 Compact / SFF Friendly | — |
💎 Value Proposition
The GeForce GTX 950 offers a compelling cost-to-performance ratio. While both GPUs are considered legacy components by modern standards, the GeForce GTX 950 holds the technical lead. Priced at $48 (vs $999), it costs 95% less, resulting in a 2038.3% higher cost efficiency score.
| Insight | GeForce GTX 950 | Radeon HD 8990 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅Better overall value (+2038.3%) | ❌Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅More affordable ($48) | ⚠️Higher upfront cost ($999) |
Performance Check
Real-world benchmarks and performance projections based on comprehensive hardware analysis and comparative metrics. Values represent expected performance on High/Ultra settings at 1080p, 1440p, and 4K. Modeled using a Ryzen 7 7800X3D reference profile to minimize specific CPU bottlenecks.
Note: Performance behavior can vary per game. Specific architectures may perform better or worse depending on game engine optimizations and API implementation.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of GeForce GTX 950 and Radeon HD 8990
GeForce GTX 950
The GeForce GTX 950 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in August 20 2015. It features the Maxwell 2.0 architecture. The core clock ranges from 1024 MHz to 1188 MHz. It has 768 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 90W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 5,357 points. Launch price was $159.
Radeon HD 8990
The Radeon HD 8990 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in April 24 2013. It features the GCN 1.0 architecture. The core clock ranges from 950 MHz to 1000 MHz. It has 2048 ×2 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 375W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 5,214 points. Launch price was $999.
Graphics Performance
The GeForce GTX 950 scores 5,357 and the Radeon HD 8990 reaches 5,214 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 2.7% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The GeForce GTX 950 is built on Maxwell 2.0 while the Radeon HD 8990 uses GCN 1.0, both on a 28 nm process. Shader units: 768 (GeForce GTX 950) vs 2,048 (Radeon HD 8990). Raw compute: 1.825 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 950) vs 4.096 TFLOPS ×2 (Radeon HD 8990). Boost clocks: 1188 MHz vs 1000 MHz.
| Feature | GeForce GTX 950 | Radeon HD 8990 |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 5,357+3% | 5,214 |
| Architecture | Maxwell 2.0 | GCN 1.0 |
| Process Node | 28 nm | 28 nm |
| Shading Units | 768 | 2048 ×2+167% |
| Compute (TFLOPS) | 1.825 TFLOPS | 4.096 TFLOPS ×2+124% |
| Boost Clock | 1188 MHz+19% | 1000 MHz |
| ROPs | 32 | 32 ×2 |
| TMUs | 48 | 128 ×2+167% |
| L1 Cache | 288 KB | 512 KB+78% |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB+33% | 0.75 MB |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
| Feature | GeForce GTX 950 | Radeon HD 8990 |
|---|---|---|
| Upscaling Tech | FSR 2.1 (Compatible) | FSR 1.0 (Software) |
| Frame Generation | FSR 3 (Compatible) | Not Supported |
| Ray Reconstruction | No | No |
| Low Latency | Standard | AMD Anti-Lag |
Video Memory (VRAM)
The GeForce GTX 950 comes with 2 GB of VRAM, while the Radeon HD 8990 has 3 GB. The Radeon HD 8990 offers 50% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Memory bandwidth: 106 GB/s (GeForce GTX 950) vs 288 GB/s x2 (Radeon HD 8990) — a 2618.9% advantage for the Radeon HD 8990. Bus width: 128-bit vs 384-bit x2. L2 Cache: 1 MB (GeForce GTX 950) vs 0.75 MB (Radeon HD 8990) — the GeForce GTX 950 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.
| Feature | GeForce GTX 950 | Radeon HD 8990 |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 2 GB | 3 GB+50% |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR5 |
| Memory Bandwidth | 106 GB/s | 288 GB/s x2+172% |
| Bus Width | 128-bit | 384-bit x2+200% |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB+33% | 0.75 MB |
Power & Dimensions
The GeForce GTX 950 draws 90W versus the Radeon HD 8990's 375W — a 122.6% difference. The GeForce GTX 950 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (GeForce GTX 950) vs 750W (Radeon HD 8990). Power connectors: 1x 6-pin vs 2x 8-pin.
| Feature | GeForce GTX 950 | Radeon HD 8990 |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 90W-76% | 375W |
| Recommended PSU | 350W-53% | 750W |
| Power Connector | 1x 6-pin | 2x 8-pin |
| Length | 202mm | — |
| Slots | 2 | — |
| Perf/Watt | 59.5+328% | 13.9 |
Value Analysis
The GeForce GTX 950 launched at $159 MSRP and currently averages $48, while the Radeon HD 8990 launched at $999 and now averages $999. The GeForce GTX 950 costs 95.2% less ($951 savings) at current market prices. Performance per dollar (G3D Mark / price): 111.6 (GeForce GTX 950) vs 5.2 (Radeon HD 8990) — the GeForce GTX 950 offers 2046.2% better value. The GeForce GTX 950 is the newer GPU (2015 vs 2013).
| Feature | GeForce GTX 950 | Radeon HD 8990 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $159-84% | $999 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $48-95% | $999 |
| Performance per Dollar | 111.6+2046% | 5.2 |
| Codename | GM206 | Malta |
| Release | August 20 2015 | April 24 2013 |
| Ranking | #425 | #412 |
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